The life and times of my natural, crazy, coily hair as we both buck the creamy crack for good!

Debunking the Myth: Cutting for Growth

Over the past year and four months (since I started transitioning), I’ve heard all sorts of things about hair growth. For example, my grandma used to trim my mom’s hair according to the lunar calendar, saying that twice the amount that was cut off would come back by the next new moon.

Now, I must admit, I know nothing about hair when it comes to the lunar calendar, but there’s one myth I’ve heard time and time again that I know FOR SURE is not true:

You should cut your [relaxed] hair off now because, if you don’t, your natural hair wont grow.

SAY WHAT???

OK, here are the facts:

Hair growth, as in actually getting hair to come out of your scalp, has nothing to do with the hair that is currently on your head. Your hair can be relaxed, natural, color-treated, cut asymmetrically, drier than the Sahara, or even all of the above and guess what… your hair will still grow (thank God). For those of you giving me the side-eye over this one, just trust me. Your hair will grow no matter the current condition of the hair that is ALREADY on your head! The older hair may be breaking off faster than the new hair can come in, but your hair is still growing.

So, what does affect hair growth, you ask? Scalp health, for one. If your hair is dry, it’ll still grow… but if your scalp is dry, dirty, or otherwise unhealthy, the rate at which your hair grows can and will suffer. You must keep your scalp healthy in order to enjoy healthy hair growth (and, by association, healthy hair in general).

Another condition that will affect your hair growth is your overall health. You can use all of the growth aids and miracle creams you want, but only a healthy body grows healthy hair. Therefore, keep yourself healthy! Eat your fruits (and veggies) and get a little sweat in your life. I guarantee you, your hair will thank you for it!

Finally, some medications herbs, and vitamins have been known to extend the growth cycle, halt hair fall (such as garlic), or even cause hair to become brittle (my mother claims morphine did this to her hair). In addition, pregnant women often experience a wonderfully extended growth phase with little to no hair fall, followed by what is known as “postpartum shedding” for a few months after the baby is born, though it is said that the hair grows back in to it’s pre-pregnancy fullness within 18 months.

As for cutting to make your hair grow… ehh… negatory, rubber ducky. If you are attempting to grow your hair out and you do not see any growth (even when you stretch your hair), make sure your scalp and body are healthy. Investigate your medicines for possible hair-related side-effects. If you turn up nothing, investigate your ends: they may be split or otherwise unhealthy and breaking. It is then and only then when you should consider more protective styling to pull your hair off of your collar or cutting away the split ends before they have a chance to travel up the hair shaft and break.

In conclusion, as long as you are treating your ends right (no rough brushing, dry combing, etc), keeping yourself and your scalp healthy, and not taking any medicines (or treatments) that would cause your hair to fall out or your growth rate to slow, you should enjoy a healthy growth rate and, thereby, healthy hair.